Don’t Let Your Brain Shrink Part 2

Don’t Let Your Brain Shrink Part 1

I think sometimes we can confuse common with normal. Many believe that it is normal for brain function to decline with age but I think it is common and NOT normal. When we think of brain function declining, we usually assume that means cognitive decline like memory loss, but did you also know that the brain controls digestion? And muscle function? And hormone balance? And much much more. In fact it has been estimated the nearly 100% of people will have chronic gastrointestinal issues by the age of 70, and much of that comes from the brain’s role in gut function.

By the way, the issues go both ways, problems in the gut can lead to problems in the brain. For example, the absorption of vitamin B12 is a complex sequence of events in the gastrointestinal tract, and if there are any problems along the way, B12 will not be absorbed. We will see in just a moment that vitamin B12 deficiency is bad for the brain.

There was a recent study published in the medical journal Neurology. Men and women 65 years of age or older were enrolled in a study in which blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the study period. After 4 ½ years MRI brain scans were conducted revealing that brain volume was decreased in those subjects who were deficient in vitamin B12. The research team also found that blood markers of low B12 status was linked to poor memory.

Another study published in Neurology back in 2008 came up with a similar conclusion. The study author from the University of Oxford, Anna Vogiatzoglou, said: “Many factors that affect brain health are thought to be out of our control, but this study suggests that simply adjusting our diets to consume more vitamin B12 through eating meat, fish, fortified cereals or milk may be something we can easily adjust to prevent brain shrinkage and so perhaps save our memory.”

I would also add to that list vitamin B12 supplementation as a viable option to prevent B12 deficiency.

Here are some risk factors for low vitamin B12 status:

• Vegan diet – vitamin B12 is only found in food of animal origin like meat, fish, milk and eggs
• Lack of intrinsic factor – usually caused by pernicious anemia that causes autoimmune damage of this important transport molecule
• Inflammatory bowel conditions – like Celiac disease or Crohn’s disease causing malabsorption
• Certain medications – like Metformin (a diabetes drug)
• Gastrointestinal surgery – especially of the distal ileum where vitamin B12 is absorbed
• Pancreatic enzyme deficiencies or low stomach acid
• Increased requirement – during pregnancy, or conditions like hyperthyroidism and late stage cancer

Symptoms of severe vitamin B12 deficiency may include:

• Cognitive decline
• Neurological sensations like tingling of the hands and feet; and burning of the tongue
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Intermittent constipation and diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Menstrual symptoms
• Psychological symptoms

Most symptoms can occur before the deficiency is severe enough to cause anemia. Healthcare professionals have a series of laboratory tests that can determine B12 deficiency at earlier stages that are not accompanied by anemia. Feel free to contact us if you have questions on this topic.

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